Bipolar Teenager?

My 16 years old son is going through a severe depression. A psychiatrist wants to hospitalize him, since he suspects my boy may suffer from bipolar illness. I am ambivalent as to the necessity of an hospitalisation. My former husband (we have been separated for 13 years now) mentioned to our son's psychiatrist that he was himself recently diagnosed with that disease, but is not taking any medication. This was news to me! It probably explains the irrational and terrifying outbursts of anger and violence that ruined our marriage. Is it possible that my son is depressed as a reaction to his dad's behavior rather than as a result of suffering himself from bipolar illness? I know from personal experience how distressing and depressing it can be to live with a bipolar person, especially when you don't know that the person is, in fact, sick. I tend to feel that preventing my son from being in contact with his dad for a while could be a better approach than hospitalization. What do you think?

• Ways of treating severe depression by Don Nathanson, 9/20/97
  • Thank you Don by Mireille Deschenes, 9/23/97
    • Good for you, Mireille! by Sue Deppe, MD, Burlington, VT, 9/24/97